Welcome to Verses Over Variables, a newsletter exploring the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its influence on our society, culture, and our perception of reality.

The AI Hype Cycle: The AI Crystal Ball

AI pundits are a dime a dozen these days (no pun intended), but a select few manage to rise above the chatter with illuminating and provocative insights. This week, we're putting three such voices under the microscope—thinkers who make us reconsider what's possible in artificial intelligence. On our menu: Matt Wolfe's bold predictions for the future of Large Language Models, Daniel Miessler's surprisingly human-centric approach to forecasting AI's path, and James Cuda's artistic take on AI's role in Procreate's creative sandbox. These aren't just predictions—they're blueprints for an AI future that's anything but artificial.

The LLM Cocktail: A Mixed Drink

Matt Wolfe's crystal ball isn't just predicting the future—it's reflecting a revolution already in motion. While tech titans arm-wrestle for AI supremacy, a quieter, craftier approach is bubbling up from the digital underground. His crystal ball shows a future where your witty back-and-forth isn't with a single AI hotshot, but a custom-blended brain trust. Imagine a silicon sommelier, expertly blending inputs from various AI vintages to serve up the perfect response. Need a shot of facts? A splash of Perplexity. Craving depth? A measure of Claude. Feeling spicy? A dash of Grok for kick.

But in actuality, this isn't just pie-in-the-sky thinking. Projects like NotDiamond, RouteLLM, and TypingMind are already stirring the beginnings of a potent cocktail. They're the vanguard of a movement that's less about picking sides in the AI wars and more about crafting the perfect blend for each user. Wolfe's betting big on small language models (SLMs), too. These compact cognitive companions are like artisanal bitters in our AI Old Fashioned – highly specialized, packing a punch far beyond their size. We're talking coding savants, medical oracles, and creative muses, all waiting to be mixed into your perfect digital drink.

This approach dovetails neatly with Ben Thompson's Aggregation Theory. In our zero-friction digital world, the power isn't in controlling the product, but in owning the user relationship. Wolfe's AI router could be the ultimate aggregator, becoming the go-to bartender for all our AI mixes. Just as Uber doesn't own cars and Airbnb doesn't own real estate, tomorrow's AI powerhouse might not own any large language models. Instead, it could be the master curator, the digital maître d' expertly guiding us to the perfect AI experience.

Wolfe's vision—and its real-world prototypes—offers a tantalizing alternative. In the future, we're not pledging allegiance to any single AI overlord. Instead, we're sipping from a constantly evolving, perfectly tailored blend of artificial intelligence.

The Human Variable in AI’s Equation

Daniel Miessler, the sage behind Unsupervised Learning and a 25-year veteran of the information security trenches, has traded his white hat for a crystal ball, writing about his vision of our AI-driven future. Meissner expects less sci-fi fantasy, more inevitable reality show where humanity's oldest desires get a Silicon Valley makeover.

Miessler flips the script on tech forecasting with a simple yet powerful insight: Don't watch the tech, watch the humans. While technological advancements may zig and zag unpredictably, human desires remain remarkably constant. Like predicting a drunk's stumbling path home, we can anticipate tech's evolution by understanding what people fundamentally want. It's not about following the erratic footsteps of innovation, but keeping our eyes on humanity's unchanging destination: fulfilling our core needs and desires.

These are Miessler’s predictions:

• Your AI BFF: Imagine a digital assistant who knows you better than your therapist, your partner, and your mom combined. It's like having a mind-reading sidekick, minus the spandex.

• The World as API: Everything broadcasts its essence digitally. Your favorite coffee shop, your dog's collar, even that elusive parking spot – all pinging their status into the ether.

• AI as Life Concierge: Your digital assistant becomes the ultimate middleman, negotiating your day-to-day from scheduling dentist appointments to finding the perfect gift for your impossible-to-shop-for aunt.

• The Helicopter AI: Think of it as a digital bodyguard, filtering out Twitter trolls and fake news faster than you can say "doom scroll.”

• Tech Hunger Games: Welcome to the gladiatorial arena of AI modules, where tech companies vie for the honor of being your AI's go-to plugin.

• Reality, but Make It Better: Augmented reality gets personal. Your world, filtered through AI-powered rose-colored glasses, customized to your preferences.

• Your AI Entourage: Why stop at one AI when you can have a digital posse? Life coach, personal trainer, career advisor – there's an AI for every aspect of your life.

Miessler argues this AI-driven future isn't just plausible; it's practically predestined. It caters to our core desires for safety, success, and connection – the holy trinity of human needs, now with an AI upgrade. But it's not all digital rainbows and AI butterflies. Miessler warns of privacy breaches that could make current data leaks look like a dripping faucet. Imagine your entire digital soul laid bare – every secret, every guilty pleasure, every 3 AM Google search.

Yet, despite these looming risks, Miessler bets we'll embrace this new world order. The allure of never forgetting an anniversary or always knowing the perfect thing to say might just outweigh our privacy concerns.

AI-Free Art

The digital art world is buzzing, but not from the hum of AI processors. Procreate, the darling of iPad-wielding artists everywhere, has just thrown down the gauntlet in the face of the AI revolution. CEO James Cuda didn't just politely decline to join the AI party; he slammed the door on it with a force that's got creatives cheering from their studio corners.

Cuda didn't mince words when he declared his position on generative AI. "I really f***ing hate generative AI," Cuda stated. It's a sentiment that's both refreshing in its candor and startling in an industry where embracing the latest tech is often seen as the only way forward. Cuda's stance isn't just about personal preference. He argues that generative AI is "built on a foundation of theft" and is "ripping the humanity out of things." It's a perspective that cuts to the heart of the ethical debates surrounding AI in creative fields. While tech giants race to integrate AI into every aspect of the creative process, Procreate is zigging where others zag, doubling down on the irreplaceable value of human imagination and skill.

This maverick move isn't without its risks. In a market where AI-enhanced tools promise to democratize art creation, Procreate's commitment to remaining AI-free could be seen as limiting its potential user base. Yet, it's precisely this principled stand that's igniting passion among its core audience. The response from the artistic community has been overwhelmingly positive, bordering on euphoric. Social media platforms are alight with artists praising Procreate's decision, many viewing it as a much-needed defense of their craft and livelihood. This groundswell of support underscores a more profound anxiety within the creative community about the rise of AI in art. Concerns about copyright infringement, the devaluation of human creativity, and the ethical implications of AI-generated art have been simmering for years. Procreate's stance has given voice to these concerns, transforming the company from a mere tool provider to a champion of artistic integrity. The contrast with other industry players is stark. While companies like Adobe and Figma have faced backlash for introducing AI features, Procreate's commitment to remaining AI-free is being hailed as a refreshing alternative. This move positions the company not just as a software developer, but as a philosophical ally in the ongoing debate about the future of digital art.

As the digital dust settles, one thing is clear: Procreate's anti-AI stance has transformed it from a beloved app into a cultural touchstone. It's a reminder that in the realm of creativity, the human touch still holds a power that no algorithm can quite capture. Yet, we find ourselves on the bubble. We understand the value of human creativity, intellectual property, and art, but we also believe that AI is a tool. If you're a digital artist using Procreate to make a perfect circle, how is that fundamentally different from AI assistance? The debate raises complex questions about the nature of creativity and the role of technology in art. While Procreate's stance is admirable, many artists prefer the freedom to choose their own tools, even if that means opting for Adobe and Midjourney instead. And the true masterpiece may lie in finding the right balance between human ingenuity and technological innovation.

Tool Update

Midjourney: Opens up its website to everyone

Midjourney, our favorite image generation tool, has just made its grand debut beyond Discord. With the launch of a revamped website, the platform is now more accessible than ever, offering a taste of its capabilities with a limited number of free images for new users. The latest iteration, v6.1, is already pushing boundaries, with v6.2 on the near horizon. While text generation remains a work in progress—users can employ inpainting or traditional editing software for touch-ups—the anticipated v7, slated for release later this year, promises to address these linguistic hurdles and much more. For those looking for a deeper dive into Midjourney’s potential, feel free to reach out, or follow one of our favorite creator’s livestream (Nick on Maven).

We’ll be talking about our favorite tools, but here is a list of the tools we use most for productivity: ChatGPT 4o (custom GPTs), Midjourney (image creation), Perplexity (for research), Descript (for video, transcripts), Claude (for writing), Adobe (for design), Miro (whiteboarding insights), and Zoom (meeting transcripts, insights, and skip ahead in videos).

Intriguing Stories

Rise of the Machines: The future is knocking, and it's got metal knuckles. Humanoid robots are no longer confined to sci-fi flicks - they're strutting into factories, labs, and maybe soon, your smart home. Tesla's Optimus is flexing its AI muscles on car production lines, while Boston Dynamics's new all-electric Atlas twists and turns like a gymnast. Not to be outdone, Figure's latest bot is showing off its NVIDIA-powered brains at BMW, proving it can do more than just parallel park. Apple is rumored to be joining this metallic coterie. Word on the street is they're concocting a home device that's part iPad, part robot arm. Think of it as Siri with limbs – when you need your digital assistant to reach out and touch someone (or something). For those with $16k burning a hole in their pocket (and who doesn't have that lying around?), Unitree's G1 offers a taste of the robot life. Meanwhile, China's universities and tech companies are churning out humanoids faster than fortune cookies, proving the robot revolution knows no borders. Not to be left out, the DIY crowd can join the party thanks to Hugging Face's LeRobot  project. Now you can build your own bot and teach it new tricks without needing a Ph.D. in mechatronics. It's like having a robotic puppy, minus the chewed slippers and the ability to do your taxes. Don't be surprised if your next houseguest asks to be plugged in instead of offered a drink.

AI’s Rotten Tomatoes: In the latest episode of "AI Gone Wild," we've got a blockbuster tale that's part "The Player," part "Weird Science," and all Hollywood hubris. Imagine a world where artificial intelligence moonlights as a film critic, penning scathing reviews of classics that never existed. Welcome to the fever dream that was the "Megalopolis" trailer fiasco. Francis Ford Coppola found himself at the center of a marketing meltdown when AI-generated quotes trashed his masterpieces. "The Godfather," suddenly dubbed "sloppy" and "self-indulgent"? "Apocalypse Now" an "epic piece of trash"? It's enough to make Don Corleone reach for the cannoli in despair. The culprit was not a disgruntled intern with an axe to grind, but AI, playing fast and loose with facts. As a result, the trailer was pulled and an “intern” was actually fired. This digital debacle isn't just Hollywood's problem. From courtrooms to boardrooms, AI's penchant for fabrication is leaving a trail of facepalms. Michael Cohen's lawyer cited phantom court cases, while an airline's legal team found themselves on a flight of fancy with non-existent precedents. Even Pras Michél of the Fugees saw his defense rap up in flames thanks to an AI-penned closing argument that was more science fiction than legal brief. Remember, AI might be intelligent, but without a human hand on the keyboard, it's about as reliable as a Hollywood weather report. So next time you dip into ChatGPT, be very demure, be very mindful.

— Lauren Eve Cantor

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banner images created with Midjourney.